The Open Obesity Journal

2012, 4 : 35-43
Published online 2012 November 16. DOI: 10.2174/1876823701204010035
Publisher ID: TOOBESJ-4-35

Behavioural and Motivational Factors Associated with Weight Loss and Maintenance in a Commercial Weight Management Programme

James Stubbs , David Brogelli , Carolyn Pallister , Amanda Avery , Aine McConnon and Jacquie Lavin
Nutrition Department, Slimming World, Clover Nook Road, Somercotes, Alfreton, Derbyshire, DE55 4RF.

ABSTRACT

This survey examined self-reported behaviour changes associated with weight loss and maintenance in a group of 292 members of a commercial weight management organisation (CWMO). Mean (SD) joining weight was 89.0 (20.0) kg, duration of membership was 29.1 (16.2) months and time taken to reach their current weight was 16.3 (13.5) months. Mean (SD) weight change was -15.6 (11.4) kg and BMI change was -5.7 (4.0) kg/m², (both p<0.001), which had been maintained for 11.7 (12.8) months.

Primary factors reported by participants as important in achieving their weight loss included not going hungry by satisfying appetite with low energy density food eaten ad libitum, following a flexible diet, peer-group support and tools to cope with small lapses.

Several reported eating/activity behaviours significantly correlated with weight loss maintenance (WLM). However in regression analysis, while most individual changes in eating behaviour and activity behaviour were significant predictors of weight change in this group, no variables explained more than a few percent of the variance, after adjusting for age, gender, height and starting weight.

A range of eating and activity behaviours was associated with weight loss maintenance. It is important to offer consumers flexible solutions they can adapt to their individual lifestyle needs.

Keywords:

Behaviour, diet, exercise.